Question

In the Google Maps application, there is a small blue arrow that points in the direction the uses is facing. How can I duplicate this in my app? Please provide sample code.

Answer 1

I had an app where I had to get direction the device was pointing in. In order to get this value, you have to setup a SensorManager and a SensorListener. Here is the basic code to get it going. You will of course have to do some tweaking based on the declination (difference between true north and magnetic north).

mySensorManager = (SensorManager)getSystemService(Context.SENSOR_SERVICE);
List<Sensor> mySensors = mySensorManager.getSensorList(Sensor.TYPE_ORIENTATION);

private SensorEventListener mySensorEventListener = new SensorEventListener(){

    @Override
    public void onAccuracyChanged(Sensor sensor, int accuracy) {

    }

    @Override
    public void onSensorChanged(SensorEvent event) {
        //device heading in degrees
        float azimuth = event.values[0];
    }
};